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2012 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence

Joel Collado, Allaire “AJay” DaleyKeyser, Prajwal “PJ” Shah and Julia Warren have received the award, created 15 years ago to recognize those students who have best demonstrated the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership; athletics; community service; creative and performing arts; or career achievement.

“The students we honor today have excelled academically and taken advantage of what SUNY has to offer in and outside the classroom,” SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said. “They are proven leaders, athletes, artists and civic volunteers who truly represent the power of SUNY. I congratulate all of the students being recognized today and thank them for the positive impact each of them has had on New York state, our university system and the communities we serve.”

Joel Collado: A 'Superstar'

Collado will graduate this spring with a degree in public relations. He is the recipient of the 2010 Educational Opportunity Program Service Award, the 2011 Omicron Delta Kappa Circle Leader of the Year and the SUNY Chancellor’s Certificate of Academic Achievement. In addition, he served as a matriculation speaker and took part in a semester-long internship with a public relations agency in Barcelona, Spain.

“He is quite frankly a superstar,” wrote Director of Special Programs Dr. Michele Carpentier '77 G'87 CAS '87 in a letter nominating Collado for the award. She went on to say that he has excelled both in and out of the classroom and in his work as a tutor/counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program. He was so strong in the tutor/counselor role that he was offered the position of institute coordinator. “He is the youngest student ever to be offered this position,” she added.

Allaire “AJay” DaleyKeyser: ‘Self-Starter' Who 'Loves to Learn'

DaleyKeyser graduated in December 2011 with a degree in biology and is currently preparing to enter medical school. As a student, she delivered six research presentations at national and international conferences. She was a member of the college’s honors program, served as a teaching assistant in the biology department, did AmeriCorps service in the North Country Traumatic Brain Injury Center and has been a regular volunteer at CVPH Medical Center.

“Her dedication to detail and dependability show her to be committed to excellence and a student worthy of this opportunity,” wrote Lecturer Sandra Latourelle. “Ajay has a wonderful sense of humor; she works extremely well with people, is a self-starter and loves to learn.”

Prajwal “PJ” Shah: 'Top Student' and 'Leader'

A December 2011 economics and finance graduate, Shah is now embarking on a financial internship with ASML, a producer of semiconductors. Shah was the first international student to serve as president of the college’s Student Association. He was also the co-founder and president of its Club International. He helped coordinate fundraisers for Japan, the Philippines, Livestrong and other causes. He also received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Student in the School of Business and Economics and was Member of the Year for Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity.

“I have found PJ's academic performance to be excellent, and he has ranked as the top student in all my classes, always attaining the highest numerical grade,” wrote Dr. Greg Gregoriou, a professor of finance. Gregoriou added that Shah's “maturity and leadership skills on campus and particularly in the classroom have encouraged other students to follow in his footsteps, seek his advice and look up to him for leadership.”

Julia Warren: Balancing Academics and Athletics

Warren is a nutrition major who has been a member of the college’s honors program and a Presidential Scholar. She has served as co-captain of the women’s cross-country and track teams and as a member of the Student Dietetics Club and the Food Group. She has also taken part in a semester-long internship with the Vegetarian Resource Group in Baltimore.

“Julia is intelligent, dedicated, meticulous, hardworking, prompt and punctual in submitting assignments, research abstracts and term papers,” wrote Ena Joseph, dietetics program director and a professor in nutrition. “She is also on the college's track team and spends a substantial amount of time daily practicing and is still able to maintain the top status in her class in all the major courses.